U.S. patent number 6,357,713 [Application Number 09/500,859] was granted by the patent office on 2002-03-19 for small space container bracket.
This patent grant is currently assigned to S. C. Johnson Commerical Markets, Inc.. Invention is credited to Patrick T. BeBow.
United States Patent |
6,357,713 |
BeBow |
March 19, 2002 |
Small space container bracket
Abstract
A device for holding a dispensing container, having a back
member with a top and bottom member projecting in the same
direction from the back member. The bottom member projects out
laterally in a downward direction from the back member angling the
dispensing container to allow increased access to a pump action
dispensing mechanism. The top member contains an opening allowing a
neck of the dispensing container to be engaged with the pump action
dispensing mechanism and locked into place to prevent its removal.
The bottom member includes a lip that is in association with the
dispensing container, preventing the dispensing container from
moving.
Inventors: |
BeBow; Patrick T. (Racine,
WI) |
Assignee: |
S. C. Johnson Commerical Markets,
Inc. (Sturtevant, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
23991235 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/500,859 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/300;
248/311.2; 248/312.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M
13/02 (20130101); A47K 5/12 (20130101); F16M
11/041 (20130101); A47K 5/1205 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16M
13/02 (20060101); A47F 001/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/311.2,311.3,312,312.1,313,314,316.8,300 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Braun; Leslie A.
Assistant Examiner: Morrison; Naschica S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bovee; Warren R. Rymarz; Renee J.
Hamilton; Neil E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for holding a dispensing container, the container
including a top including a neck, a base, and side walls, the
device comprising:
a) a back member;
b) a bottom member extending laterally from the back member;
c) a top member, spaced from the bottom member, the top member
extending laterally from the back member in the same direction and
having a front portion generally parallel to the bottom member,
said top member front portion having a front and a pair of
sides;
d) the bottom member extending out laterally from the back member
at an obtuse angle causing the top of the container when held in
the device to be at a greater distance from the back member than
the base of the container;
e) the top member having an opening extending from one of said
sides of the top member towards the center of the top member, for
receiving the neck of the container; and
f) the distal end of the bottom member having one or more lips,
extending up to the entire width of the distal end of the bottom
member for contacting the side of the container to permit the
container to be slid laterally of the device into a final
position.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the back member has one or more
openings for receiving a fastening means to secure the device to a
surface.
3. The device of claim 1 where the top member, bottom member and
back member all are essentially planar.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein a first portion of the top member
extends from the back member forming an angle greater than 90
degrees then after staying at a consistent slope, a second portion
of the top member changes slope forming an angle greater than 90
degrees from the first portion of the top member and extends
parallel to the bottom member.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the opening is circular at the
center of the second portion of the top member and the opening
extends away from the center to the side of the top member as a
channel.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the end of the opening at the
center of the second portion of the top member is constructed and
arranged for connection to a dispensing mechanism of the container
and the channel of the opening extending to the side of the top
member is of a smaller dimension than the dispensing mechanism.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the bottom member extends from the
back member, at an angle greater than 90 degrees.
8. The device of claim 7 where the second portion of the top member
is parallel to the bottom member.
9. A device, for holding a dispensing container and the dispensing
container comprising a top including a neck, a base, a front side,
a back side, a right side, and a left side, the device
comprising:
a.) a substantially planar back member;
b.) a substantially planar bottom member extending laterally from
the back member where the base of the dispensing container can be
supported when placed thereon;
c.) a substantially planar top member extending laterally from the
back member and in the same direction as the bottom member
containing a first section that is angled to extend in the opposite
direction from the bottom member and changes slope forming a second
section that is angled to extend parallel to the bottom member;
d.) wherein the bottom member extends out laterally from the back
member at an obtuse angle causing the container top to be tilted
farther away from the back member than the container base and
angling a pump action dispensing mechanism of the container to
allow easier use of the pump action dispensing mechanism;
e.) wherein the top member contains an opening at the center of the
second portion that is circular and continues as a channel from the
circular portion through a side of the top member allowing the neck
of the container to pass unobstructed through the opening to be
engaged with the pump action dispensing mechanism, said channel
having a width less than the diameter of said circular opening;
f.) wherein the container may be passed from the side of the device
to the center of the device while the neck of the container passes
through the opening from the side to an end of the opening at the
center of the second portion of the top member;
g.) wherein when the pump action dispensing mechanism is engaged
with the neck of the container the container is locked into the
device preventing removal;
h.) wherein the bottom member has one or more lips, each lip
extending up to the entire length of the distal edge of the bottom
member;
i.) wherein the one or more lips of the bottom member is in
association with the container securing the container from forward
movement;
j.) wherein the device has a fastening means which when engaged
mounts the device to a vertical surface to prevent mobility while
using a limited amount of space.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
NONE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a holder for a
dispensing container with a pump action dispensing mechanism. More
particularly, it relates to a bracket that allows a dispensing
container to be secured to a surface while still allowing easy
access to the dispensing container.
2. Background Art
The use of the dispensing containers and pump action dispensing
mechanism is beneficial in preventing the contamination of the
product within the dispensing container, while eliminating the need
for the bulky standard dispensing unit. The standard dispensing
unit used is a large wall-mounted unit that is about double the
size of the dispensing container, which is placed inside. The pump
action dispensing mechanism can alternatively be used with the
dispensing container. The pump action dispensing mechanism screws
onto the neck of the container eliminating the need for the
standard dispensing unit. The two major draw backs of using a
dispensing containers without the standard dispensing unit is the
lack of security, the container and the pump action dispensing
mechanism can easily be taken by any user, while also taking up
limited counter space.
One attempt at a solution is employed in Holder for Dispensing
Container, which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,853. In this
patent a bracket is described that mounts a dispensing container to
a wall. The top of the dispensing container with the pump action
dispensing mechanism is passed through a large circular opening in
the upper extension of the bracket and bottom is placed on the
lower extension of the bracket.
The prior art does not afford a solution to the problem of
providing a bracket that uses a minimal amount of space while still
giving security and limited mobility for a dispensing
container.
The objects of the invention therefore are:
a. To allow the use of a dispensing container to limit the chances
of contamination.
b. To allow a dispensing container to be used while using a minimal
amount of space.
c. To allow the use of a dispensing container without the standard
dispensing unit while still providing security from theft.
d. To allow for easy dispensing of the contents of the dispensing
container.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is a device for
mounting the dispensing container and pump action dispensing unit
to the wall utilizing minimal space while securing the container
and restricting mobility. This restriction of mobility makes the
use of these containers more desirable in a commercial setting
where the amount of users is unlimited. The invention also angles
the pump action dispensing unit and the dispensing container
forward making access to the pump action dispensing mechanism
easier for the user. The device is a holder for a dispensing
container, the dispensing container comprising a top including a
neck, a base, a front side, a back side, a right side, and a left
side.
The invention comprises a back member, top member, and a bottom
member, wherein the top and bottom member extend laterally from the
back member in the same direction. The top member and the bottom
member extend at obtuse angles from the back member. The angle is a
sufficient amount that when the back member is mounted to a wall,
and the dispensing container is placed into the invention the top
of the dispensing container is farther away from the back member
than the base.
The top member of the device is skewed relative to the location of
the dispensing container when the dispensing container is engaged
with the invention. A first portion of the top member projects from
the back member at an angle greater than 90 degrees. A second
portion of the top member changes slope forming an angle greater
than 90 degrees from the first portion. The second portion of the
top member runs parallel to the bottom member. The change in slope
of the top member allows the top of the dispensing container to be
held securely in place at its skewed position in the device. The
top member contains an opening that allows for the engaging of the
dispensing container neck. The opening in the top member begins at
the center of the second section of the top member and continues
through the side of the top member. The opening is circular at the
end located in the center of the second section of the top member
and continues as a channel from the circular center to the side of
the top member. The neck of the container passes unobstructed
through the opening to be engaged with the pump action dispensing
mechanism. The container may be passed from the side of the device
to the center of the device while the neck of the container passes
through the opening from the side to the end of the opening at the
center of the second portion of the top member. When the neck of
the dispensing container is fully engaged in the circular portion
at the end of the opening, the pump action dispensing mechanism can
be connected to the neck of the dispensing container which locks
the dispensing container into the invention preventing
mobility.
The bottom member of the invention contains one or more lips that
can extend up to the width of the distal end of the bottom member.
The lips may extend the entire front side of the bottom member and
are in association with the dispensing container preventing it from
forward movement. These lips further prevent the mobility of the
dispensing container when locked into the invention.
The back member is substantially planar allowing maximum connection
to the mounting surface. The back member has at least one means for
mounting the device including an opening that a fastening means may
be passed through to secure the device to the mounting surface. The
features and innovation of the device are further clarified with
the following descriptions, appended claims, and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of this
inventor.
FIG. 2 is a front full view of the device.
FIG. 3 is a top, front perspective view of the device.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the device with a dispensing
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a device generally 15 for holding a dispensing container
21 is shown in the figures. The device 15 is used to hold a
dispensing container 21 when the device 15 is mounted to a vertical
surface. Thereby, allowing the dispensing container 21 to be easily
accessed while taking up a minimal amount of space. The device 15
can be injection molded from acrylic for its easy maintenance and
inexpensive production cost or any other substance that is durable
enough and easily maintainable for the devices 15 specified
commercial use.
The device 15 includes a back member 4 a top member 17 and a bottom
member 5. The top member 17 extends from the back member 4
laterally, and in the same direction as the bottom member 5,
forming an angle 20 greater than 90 degrees from the back member 4.
The top member 17 has two portions, a first portion 2 and a second
portion 3. The first portion 2 and the second portion 3 are
distinguished by a change of slope in the top member 17. The change
in slope of the top member 17 forms an angle 19 greater than 90
degrees. The change in slope of the top member holds the dispensing
container 21 in place, which is at an angle so that the user has
easier access to a pump action dispensing mechanism 10. The bottom
member 5 is at an obtuse angle from the back member 4 to support
the dispensing container 21. The angle 18 of the bottom member 5 is
greater than 90 degrees. The bottom member 5 and the second portion
3 of the top member 17 run parallel to each other allowing for the
engagement of the base of dispensing container 13 and the top of
the dispensing container 9 respectfully. The angling of the top
member 3 and the bottom member 5 angles the dispensing container 21
causing the top of the container 9 to be at a greater distance from
the back member 4 than the base. The bottom member 5 also has a lip
6 that is perpendicular to a distal end 16 of the bottom member 5.
The lip 6 is located in a position that allows it to be in
association with the container 21 at the base of the front side 12
of the dispensing container 21. When the container 21 and lip 6 are
in association, the dispensing container 21 is secured in place
making use easier and allowing for greater security from theft.
The second portion 3 of the top member 17 contains an opening 1
that is engaged with a neck 11 of the dispensing container 21. The
opening 1 originates in the center of the second portion 3 of the
top member 17 and continues to the side 22 of the top member 17.
The preferred opening 1 is circular in the center of the second
portion 3 of the top member 17. The opening 1 then extends as a
channel to the side 22 of the top member 17 so as to provide an
unobstructed path to the circular portion of the opening 1. The
neck 11 of the dispensing container 21 is fully engaged with the
device when it has passed through the channel of the opening 1 and
is contained completely in the circular portion of the opening 1.
When the neck 11 of the dispensing container 21 is fully positioned
in the opening 1, the neck 11 can be engaged with a cap 23 and the
pump action dispensing mechanism 10. Once the neck 11 of the
dispensing container 21 is fully engaged with the cap 23 and the
pump action dispensing mechanism 10, the dispensing container is
locked into place and can not be removed. This feature allows for
the security of the dispensing container 21 making its use in
commercial settings more desirable. The device 15 once fully
engaging with the dispensing container 21, pump action dispensing
mechanism 10 and the lip 6 allows for security. The dispensing
container 21 can not be easily removed when the dispensing unit is
used in a commercial setting where there are multiple users through
out the day.
The back member 4 contains at least one means for mounting the
device 15 to a horizontal surface. The method of mounting includes
two holes 7 that allow for a screw or other fastening means to pass
through and connect to the mounting structure. The fastening means
may also be an adhesive substance that is applied to the back
member 4 and the mounting surface securing the device 15 to the
surface. The mounting of the device 15 gives extra security while
taking up minimal amounts of space. The advantage of the ability to
mount the device 15 is that in areas with limited space the device
15 provides the user the ability to use a dispensing container 21
without the loss of any space due to its placement of the
dispensing container 21. The compact size of the device 15 also
increases its desirability as a space saver. The size of the device
15 allows for a limited amount of wall mounting space to be needed
to secure the device 15 while still freeing up counter space. This
factor makes this invention desirable over other devices.
Although the present device has been described in the preceding
detail with references to certain preferred embodiments other
versions are possible. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims
should not be limited to the description of the detailed version
contained herein.
* * * * *